What is arguably the most under-the-radar SuperClasico yet between soon-to-vanish Chivas USA and the winless Galaxy is set for Sunday in Carson, the first in a three-game series that will conclude at season’s end after a largely undistinguished nine-year run.

Chivas USA has just four wins in 28 regular-season MLS games between the two South Bay rivals, the last coming in May 2012. The Goats sealed that 2-0 win from the penalty spot after Galaxy defender David Lopes Junior earned a red card for a goal-line handball.

But generally speaking, competitive games, let alone drama, have been in short supply over the years.

Apart from a short interlude when MLS enforcer Jesse Marsch was patrolling the field for Chivas USA in 2007, a season when the Goats actually went undefeated against a terrible Galaxy team, there hasn’t been much to hold the attention of fans.

That’s unlikely to change when the game kicks off at noon Sunday (live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Unimas), a difficult time to lure fans at the best of times, let alone with spring break looming.

MLS-owned Chivas USA, set to be sold and rebranded by year end, is drawing the fewest fans in the league. The average attendance of just 7,500 is officially down 10 percent from last year, although most observers estimate crowds are really running around half that figure.

And the winless Galaxy have yet to capture anyone’s imagination with offseason acquisitions like forward Rob Friend and winger Stefan Ishizaki still seeking to connect with the established veterans around them.

Still, while few are watching, Chivas USA have the best opportunity in years to turn the traditional SuperClasico tables on the Galaxy.

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In Mexican striker “Cubo” Torres, Chivas USA boasts an explosive goalscorer tied for the MLS scoring lead this season and responsible for scoring four of the club’s six goals.

The sagging Galaxy back line was dealt another blow last week when the club learned veteran right back James Riley, the replacement for the departed Sean Franklin, could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury after appearing in just two games.

And 1-1-2 Chivas USA sit in the top half of the Western Conference, while the 0-1-1 Galaxy are just off the basement.

Chivas USA’s SuperClasico hopes have been crushed on numerous occasions, but if they can keep Landon Donovan in check — still seeking the goal that will put him atop the all-time MLS scoring chart — Chivas could surprise even themselves. Only a second-half stoppage time New York goal Sunday denied them a road win over a Red Bull team many observers had tapped as MLS Cup winners.

“If you said to me at the beginning of the game that we would come over here to Red Bull Arena to play this excellent team that last year was the Supporters’ Shield winner and we tied, I would have said, ‘Yes, let’s do it,’ ” Chivas USA coach Wilmer Cabrera said. “So, it is a good result overall. It hurts because we’re (ahead for) 94 minutes, but the reality is that you have to play the whole game.”

ETC.

Former U.S. international John Thorrington, who grew up on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, retired Monday at age 34 after an injury-blighted career. The midfielder signed for Manchester United at age 17, but never fulfilled that early promise, making fewer than 200 first-team appearances for five clubs, most notably the Chicago Fire. ... Before the SuperClasico on Sunday, the Galaxy’s Donovan and defender Omar Gonzalez face Mexico on Wednesday in a game that could see highly touted young striker Julian Green make his U.S. debut.